The Community Organizer engages people with lived experience of homelessness, hunger, and poverty to develop, lead, and implement campaigns for positive policy change. The Organizer will be responsible for providing direction and support to Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ), including guiding HVJ meetings, recruiting new members, and supporting members' development into grassroots leaders. To foster relationships and create outreach opportunities with clients and others, the Community Organizer will spend significant time each week collaborating with Preble Street programs. The position requires commitment to social and economic justice and community-led change, as well as the ability to build strong relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
As a member of the Advocacy Team, the Organizer will also support the team with local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns, assist with event coordination, and build and maintain relationships with community partners.
The ideal candidate has experience in community organizing, outreach, advocacy, or grassroots engagement, works well in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrates strong organizational skills.
Population Served: Individuals and families experiencing problems with homelessness, hunger, and poverty.
This is a full-time, Monday–Friday position, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with some work during evenings and weekends occasionally required.
QualificationsThe desired combination of education and relevant experience for this position includes a bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, social sciences, or related field of study, and experience working in community organizing and advocacy on poverty-related issues. Additional qualifications include:
- Alignment with Preble Street’s mission and positive regard for individuals accessing services for homelessness and poverty.
- Ability to connect with and outreach individuals in a variety of environments.
- Strong skills in solutions generation and critical thinking.
- Data analysis skills, with proficiency in collecting, documenting, reporting, and communicating data and information.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
- A valid drivers’ license and acceptable driving record is required.
Compensation and Benefits
The hourly rate of pay for this full-time (40 hours/week) position is $24.64. per hour. Generous paid time off, insurance, and retirement plan benefits include:
- 4 weeks (160 hours, accrued) vacation time, 12 days (96 hours, accrued) sick time, 32 hours personal time, 12 Paid Holidays
- Health insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Dental insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Vision insurance; Employer-paid Life, STD, and LTD insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan w/ employer match
To Apply: We encourage applicants to apply via Preble Street’s website employment page. Applications (resume and cover letter, preferred) may also be emailed to [email protected] or mailed via USPS mail to Preble Street Human Resources, 55 Portland Street, Portland, ME 04101. Please note that automatically generated confirmations of receipt will be sent in response to applications sent via email. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be otherwise contacted.
If you need assistance or accommodation in the application process, please contact us at [email protected].
Preble Street, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, has been working since 1975 to provide best practice social services that meet urgent needs and end hunger and homelessness for individuals and families in Maine living in poverty.
Preble Street is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and consider applications for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws
Preble Street recognizes that Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2IA+ people and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every qualification described in a job posting.
Our hiring process recognizes the value of various lived experiences and backgrounds when assessing candidates.
Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in social work, social sciences, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
- Experience in community organizing and advocacy on anti-poverty-related issues (or equivalent combination)
- Commitment to Preble Street mission and understanding of policy issues related to hunger and homelessness, harm reduction, social and economic justice, affordable housing, nutrition assistance, and criminalization
- Understanding and positive regard for individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty
- Ability to establish and maintain boundaries
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse individuals and organizations
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in a fast-paced, deadline-centric environment
- Ability to react with flexibility and sensitivity to changing situations and needs
- Capacity to explain complex budget and lawmaking processes to a general audience
- Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, verify facts, and draw valid conclusions
- Technical capacity to communicate, document, report, and distribute data and information using various communications technologies
- Valid driver's license
- Previous organizing experience
What We Do
Preble Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing accessible, barrier-free services to empower individuals experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, hunger, and poverty, and to advocate for solutions to these problems.
